Osgood Perkins, known for his slow-paced horror films, gained wider attention with The Monkey. As the son of Norman Bates, his name is tied to a horror legacy. While his previous works like The Blackcoat’s Daughter and Gretel and Hansel didn’t garner much attention, The Monkey blends the suspense of Final Destination with Tarantino-style intensity, offering a thrilling and gory experience.
Everything changed in 2024 with Longlegs. The film showcased Perkins’ storytelling prowess and revived the horror genre in the style of the 90s. Longlegs became one of the best horror films of 2020, establishing Perkins as one of the leading figures in contemporary horror filmmaking. Just months later, he collaborated with James Wan to adapt a Stephen King short story, further cementing his position in the industry.
“The Monkey”: A powerful and fun murder spree under the influence of Tarantino
The monkey is very similar to Longlegs, but with a touch of James Wan. The film is more polished than Perkins’ last film and will surely attract audiences, even though Longlegs was a flop with critics and audiences. It has big murder scenes, gore, and a central villain who is not as articulate as Nicolas Cage. But The Monkey brings Perkins’ dark humor to the fore, which also leads to some laughs, which are intertwined with the murders.
The best part of this film is that it makes the murders explosive like Quentin Tarantino and, at the same time, adds a disturbing amount of humor to them. However, in the second half the film gets lost in its madness and presents serious thoughts on family and generations, which stops the fun for a while. Still, Perkins has made Tarantino’s style his own and has created a great Final Destination story. It is made. Now what else would you like?
‘The Monkey’: A Thrilling Twist on the Final Destination Formula!
A Gripping Start to ‘The Monkey’
As with all great horror films, ‘The Monkey’ has a terrifying start. A wild father who is trying to get rid of a very creepy toy monkey makes a very hilarious cameo. And if you don’t already know this cameo, it’s even more shocking. The blood stains on the father’s shirt clearly indicate that this isn’t just a simple matter but a matter of life and death.
The Tension Builds with a Shocking Murder Scene
Things get even scarier when the pawnshop owner refuses to accept the toy. Then suddenly, the monkey gets agitated and starts banging his drum. The father’s reaction immediately tells us that something very bad is about to happen. The murder scene that follows would make even the 2000s splat pack directors proud. With this scene, we get an idea of the monkey’s terrifying powers, and the real horror of the story comes out.
The Tragic Fall of a Family
After some time, the father abandons his family because he was unable to destroy the monkey. As a result, his son, Hal, becomes an introverted, awkward teenager. Hal is always the victim of his domineering and angry twin brother, Bill. One day, they find the same creepy monkey in the things left by their father, and this begins a series of “freak accidents.”. These accidents affect people close to them, and these events change the course of the boys’ lives forever.
Hel’s Isolated Life and Fear of the Past
Now 25 years later, Hal (Theo James) lives a lonely and isolated life in order to avoid the fear of the creepy monkey returning. However, he has fathered a son, PT (Colin O’Brien), who is now a teenager. PT becomes increasingly curious about his family’s history and secrets. But when another freak accident occurs and a family member dies, Hal realizes his worst fears have come true, and the monkey has returned.
The Return of the Curse
Hal now realizes he was never able to destroy the monkey, and it has returned in an even more dangerous way. This time, it may affect Hal’s son. Family secrets, old pain, and constant deaths force Hal to confront his family curse. He contacts his brother Bill, who is now even less prepared for adult life, and together they try to face this terrifying shadow.
